AIR RACE X 2026 Opens with Yohei Shimoda Finishing Third. Title Target in Sight

(c)LEXUS PATHFINDER AIR RACING

On Sunday, June 28, 2026, the first round of the 2026 AIR RACE X Series, the world's premier air racing championship, took place, marking the official start of the new season. Yohei Shimoda of LEXUS PATHFINDER AIR RACING, who finished second in the 2025 series, kicked off the season with a podium finish, securing 20 total points—5 points for qualifying second and 15 points for finishing third in the final. With only an 8-point gap separating him from series leader Aaron Deley, Shimoda remains firmly in contention for the season championship. The team will now intensify its efforts to strengthen overall team performance, aiming for the ultimate goal of winning the annual title.

A Fierce Opener: Shimoda Secures Podium with 2nd in Qualifying, 3rd in Final

The opening race of the 2026 season featured intense competition among the world's top pilots. The victory went to Aaron Deley (Australia), who joined the series last season. Longtime rival Martin Sonka (Czech Republic) took second place, while 2025 champion Patrick Davidson (South Africa) finished fourth—marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape.

Amid this fierce field, Shimoda advanced through qualifying in second place, earning 5 points, and delivered a steady flight in the final to secure third place and 15 additional points.

Highlights of the AIR RACE X 2026 season opener are available on the official tournament YouTube channel.

Just 8 Points Behind Leader: Title Contention Within Reach

Starting the season with 20 points, Shimoda sits just 8 points behind the series leader. In a championship decided by cumulative season points, this gap remains well within reach for a potential comeback. The strong opening performance lays a solid foundation for a serious title challenge.

United as One: The Road to the Annual Championship

The strength of LEXUS PATHFINDER AIR RACING lies in its team cohesion, with pilots and engineers working seamlessly together. Following the first race, pilot Yohei Shimoda and Technical Coordinator Yu Sato, who leads the technical team, are conducting detailed analysis of aircraft and flight data. By refining technology development, race strategy, and on-site operations, the team aims to elevate its overall performance in pursuit of the championship. Guided by the principle of "fighting as one team," LEXUS PATHFINDER AIR RACING will continue its season-long pursuit of the title it narrowly missed last year.

(c)Miho HARADA PATHFINDER

Narrow Margins at the Highest Level: A Team United in Pursuit of the Top

(c)Miho HARADA PATHFINDER

The opening race of the 2026 season delivered unprecedentedly tight racing. The win went to Aaron Deley, who joined last year and has rapidly risen through the ranks. Martin Sonka took second, while 2025 champion Patrick Davidson finished fourth, reshaping the competitive order. Despite this, Shimoda delivered an outstanding performance, recording the second-fastest overall race time.

However, in the semifinal, Deley posted an even more astonishing time, narrowly defeating Shimoda by just 0.561 seconds—a minuscule margin at the extreme limits of performance.

Since the end of last season, Shimoda and the technical team led by Technical Coordinator Yu Sato have worked as one, relentlessly refining aircraft development and tactics. This unified approach has already transformed the vast amount of data collected from this high-level race into momentum for the next event. Using the frustration of falling just short of victory as motivation, the team is making further adjustments ahead of the next race.

Comment from Pilot Yohei Shimoda:

(c)Miho HARADA PATHFINDER

"The opening race of this season ended with second in qualifying and third in the final. Given the full effort we put into aircraft development and training throughout the off-season, missing the win was deeply disappointing and painful. Losing to Aaron Deley in the semifinal reminded us that there is still room for improvement. However, the season has only just begun, and the points gap is not insurmountable. We will thoroughly analyze our shortcomings, refine our aircraft, team operations, and my own performance, and come back stronger in the races ahead. We will fight every race carefully as we aim to reclaim the championship."

Comment from Technical Coordinator Yu Sato:

(c)Miho HARADA PATHFINDER

"Over the past six months, the entire team has worked together to develop new technologies and strengthen team cohesion, aiming to avenge last year's results. These efforts are starting to pay off. However, with AIR RACE X now in its fourth season, the competition at the top is fiercer than ever. We will reassess our approach and strive to reach an even higher level. Please look forward to our performance in the next race."

About LEXUS PATHFINDER AIR RACING

(c)Suguru SAITO PATHFINDER (c)Suguru SAITO PATHFINDER

LEXUS PATHFINDER AIR RACING is a team formed by air racing pilot Yohei Shimoda and LEXUS. As part of LEXUS's pursuit of "building ever-better cars," the team collaboratively develops new vehicle technologies by applying racing aircraft technologies such as aerodynamics and cooling, while also incorporating automotive technologies—such as pilot assistance and support systems—into aircraft development.

The team's defining feature is technological exchange across air and land domains. Pilot Yohei Shimoda, who pushes the limits of flight, and automotive engineers with deep technical expertise engage in cross-disciplinary dialogue, venturing into each other's fields to pioneer uncharted technological frontiers. This collaborative pursuit of peak performance not only drives cutting-edge innovation but also fosters growth and mastery among team members. Insights gained from team activities are fed back into LEXUS vehicle development.

Official website: https://lexus-pathfinder-airracing.com/

Official SNS: <X> https://x.com/lexus_airracing <Instagram> https://www.instagram.com/lexus_airracing/

About AIR RACE X

Air racing is a motorsport in the sky where aircraft race through a three-dimensional course, competing in speed and precision flying.

AIR RACE X is the world's premier championship in this discipline. Elite pilots fly highly specialized race planes—engineered to the limit—at speeds up to 400 km/h and under extreme forces of up to 12G, competing for the fastest flight times and highest maneuvering accuracy.

Points are awarded based on race results, and the annual champion is determined by the highest cumulative points at the end of the season.

Official website: https://airracex.com/ja

Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AIRRACEX

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